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Free financial calculator

Price-to-Cash-Flow Calculator

Valuation on operating cash flow - harder to massage than earnings.

Also available in German: KCV-Rechner (Kurs-Cashflow-Verhältnis) →

Inputs

Share price

Also called: Stock price, market price

Where to find it: Any finance site (Google/Yahoo Finance) — the current trading price per share.

How to derive: Set by the market; just enter the current price per share.

Operating cash flow per share

Also called: CFPS

Where to find it: Operating cash flow (cash-flow statement) ÷ shares.

How to derive: Operating cash flow ÷ shares outstanding.

Result, live

P/CF

Compare P/CF with P/E: when P/CF is clearly lower, earnings quality is usually good (the cash actually arrives).

The price-to-cash-flow ratio (P/CF) values a stock against the operating cash it actually generates — money that is far harder to massage than reported earnings. This calculator divides share price by operating cash flow per share in seconds and shows whether that cash stream looks cheap or expensive.

How the formula works

Operating cash flow per share is the cash a business produces from its day-to-day operations, divided by shares outstanding. The P/CF ratio sets the price against that cash — a lower number means you pay less for each euro of cash coming in.

P/CF = share price ÷ operating cash flow per share

Example: A stock trades at $60 and generates $7 of operating cash flow per share. P/CF = 60 ÷ 7 = 8.6. Below 10 — a solid cash-flow valuation; you pay under nine years of current cash.

How to read the result

  • Below 10 — a solid cash-flow valuation; the price is well backed by real cash.
  • 10 to 16 — around the market average.
  • Above 16 — expensive on cash flow; you are paying up for expected growth.

What to watch out for

  • Compare it with the P/E. If P/CF sits well below the P/E, earnings quality is usually good — the cash really arrives.
  • Capex is ignored. Operating cash flow comes before investment; capital-heavy firms need free cash flow too.
  • One year can mislead. Working-capital swings jolt cash flow; look at a multi-year trend.

Frequently asked questions

Why use cash flow instead of earnings?
Earnings include non-cash items and accounting choices that management can bend. Operating cash flow tracks money actually received, so it often exposes profits that look good on paper but never turn into cash.
What is a good P/CF ratio?
Below 10 is often considered solid and above 16 rich, but the fair level depends on growth and industry. Utilities trade low; fast growers command higher multiples. Compare within a peer group.
Where do I get operating cash flow per share?
It comes from the cash-flow statement, divided by shares outstanding. In our Fair Value Calculator it is already on file for 35,000+ stocks — no typing required.